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[Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] [Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: nicholasd108 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 2:27 AM Subject: [mobilize-globally] Fwd: Suicide rate Gulf War Vets UK i have nothing to add to this but my silence. Nick --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Suicide rate Gulf War Vets UK By The Sunday Sun A staggering 70 per cent of British Gulf War veterans who have died since the conflict ended committed suicide. The startling claim is made by a respected organisation which has tracked the figure with growing alarm. Since the war with Iraq ended in 1991, a total of 537 servicemen have passed away. Of these, 380 have died at their own hands, according to the National Gulf Veterans' and Families Association, NGVFA. While the Ministry of Defence disputes the figures, the organisation insists their numbers are accurate. And they are not alone . . . the suicide rate among Falklands veterans is also shocking. The numbers who have killed themselves since the bloody conflict ended in 1982 now exceeds those who died in battle. Thousands of soldiers in both conflicts came from the North, one of the main recruiting grounds for Operation Desert Storm. NGVFA Chairman Shaun Rusling said: "More than two thirds of the veterans who have died since the Gulf War ended have committed suicide." And he added: "The balance of their minds has been impaired by what they suffered. "We are demanding that the MoD puts in place an ethical medical protocol that allows servicemen the proper treatment they deserve when they return from active service." It was the South Atlantic Medal Association 82 which revealed 264 Falkland veterans have taken their own lives since the end of the conflict compared to 255 who died during the fighting. North spokesman Dave Brown said: "The MOD are doing nothing for vets suffering from PTSD. "I back 100pc the NGVFA assertions that their figures are correct. "The fact that the MOD have said that they weren't aware of problems with PTSD among Falkland vets is rubbish. "They have known about shell-shock since World War One." An MOD spokesman said: "The rates of Gulf War veterans committing suicide is 88 out of the 496 who have died since the end of the war. "This compares to a control group suicide rate of 84 and is not significantly higher than expected." But Mr Rusling said NGVFA's research was more up to date and accurate. It claims suicide is the biggest single killer of veterans, followed by cancer. And it insists the true figure is masked by open or misadventure verdicts by coroners reluctant to record one of suicide because of the perceived social stigma attached to it. Mr Rusling added: "Our figures are higher than the MOD's because they massage the figures for political reasons." He believes that the true figure would cause the MOD severe embarrassment and hit future recruitment. Colonel Brian Gordon-Smith is a spokesman for veteran's mental health charity Combat Stress. He said: "The numbers of veterans coming forward for treatment for PTSD are increasing. "We have 5000 clients who have suffered psychological injury from their service. "We see around 500 new clients every year because PTSD can sometimes emerge decades after the event." ========================================================= --- End forwarded message --- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Get your FREE credit report with a FREE CreditCheck Monitoring Service trial http://us.click.yahoo.com/ACHqaB/bQ8CAA/ySSFAA/XgSolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
